Internal-combustion engine



Apnl 14, 1931. R. SKINNER INTERNAL COMBUSTTON ENGINE File'd May 19, 1950 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 lg A;

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April 14, l93l R. L. sKlNNER 1,800,481

INTERNAL coMBUsTIoN ENGINE Filed May 19, 1930 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 "April 14, 1931.

R. L. SKINNER INTERNAL COMBUS TI ON ENGINE Filed May 19, 195o 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE Filed May 19, 1930 l 4' sheets-sheet l4 Patented Apr. 14, 1931 `f BALI'HI.. SKINNER, or DETROIT, MIcIIIeAIs IN'rEnnALcoMBsTIoN ENGINE Y Application filled lay 19, 1930. Serial No. 453,579.

My present invention relates to several structural betterments in engines of the internal-combstion type' and appliances'of similar character, `such as pumps, one of its leading aims bein to provide an engine or the like which seals t e gas pressures in its cylinders in adequate manner by very simple nie'ans, the construction beingdeslgned in such a way that the inner cylinder or sleeve, em loyed inside of the outer cylinder, and the sli ing valves, which vreciprocate betweenv such cylinders may be removed and replaced with ease and dispatch.

-To the accomplishment of these and other desirable objects I have devised the present, preferred embodiment'of the invention in an internal-combustion engine, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, forming a partof this specification, and to which reference should be had in connection with the f'ollow-l ing detailed description, like numerals having vbeen 'employed to designate the same parts throughout the several views. l

Figure 1 is a cent In this drawing section through one cylinder of a vmulti-'cylinder engine;

Figure 2 1s an enlarged, detaiLfragmentary section through the upper portion oftheinner cylinder; L

' Figure 3 is a partial section showing the mounting of the lower end of the inner cylinder on an enlarged scale;

Figure 4 is a horizontal section on line ofFigure 1;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary, vertical ,section I through the engine crank-shaft indicating the mounting'for the inner cylinder;

Figures 6 and 7 indicate steps 'in the removal of one of the. sliding valves;

Figure 8 is a vertical section showing one of the steps in the removal ofthe valves; and Figure 9 presents a slightly modified construction and the method of taking its valyes out.

Referring to these drawings for afull understanding of' the invention, both lfrom structural andfunctioal standpoints, it will observed that the improved and novel engine includes a main or outer, preferably ral, vertical, longitudinal water-ljacketed cylinder 11, desirably, but not necessarily, cast integral with the upper sec- `tlon 12 of the'crank-case, the ordinary, lower,

readily-detachable portion or pan-shaped artof which is not shown, the cylinder havlng the customary fuel-inlet port 13 and the usual, opposite exhaustport 14. l Depending from the cylinder-block or cast- 1ng into the upper part of the crank-case is a pair of spaced, curved Walls-15 concentric 1 with, and formin partial extensions of, the cylinder andihavmg threaded apertures 16 in enlargements 17 at their lower ends rece1ving the upper screw-threaded ends of four screws or bolts 18 having shoulders 19, at the junctions of their threaded sections with their cylindrical shanks of slightly larger diameter, bearing against the' under surfaces of the parts 17.

lA supporting ring 21 is slidingly mounted on the four screws, the latter extending through holes 22 in the ring which is carried lor supported on coiled springs 23, 23 encasing or encircling the Shanks of the screws, pressmg at thelr upper ends on the under side of the ring and bearing at their lower ends on washers 24, 24 restingon the angular heads 25 of the screws or bolts, a small gap or s ace being present between the top surface o the ring and the bottom faces of the walls 15,

whereby to permit a limited, vertical play of y the ring, which is provided for the purpose' 'l of supportingv an inner cylinder or sleeve '26,

having near its lower end two, narrow, extern'al, annular vshoulders 27 28 (Figure 3) 85 .resting on companion orcomplementary, in-

ternal edges of the carrying ring 21, such .in ner cylinder having snug fits in the ring above the shoulder 27 and below the shoulder 28, and having a' vshallow space between these 90 Jwo, yinteriittedmembers between the shoulers l l i is shown, such cylindermay, if desired, extend down a short distance below the ring.

It willL be observed that the construction is such thatv the cylinder may be readily slid upwardly out of its supporting-ringto de- Y mount it therefrom, if occasion requires.A

Itlma be noted that the ring has a main,

central edv portion 29, a. circular flange 31 f exhaust valves 39 and 41 are slidable between 14 of the outer cylinder, the top edge or end y of the inner cylinder pressing upwardly against the bottom face of and supporting the sealing-ring by reason of the action of the several springs 23, 23.

If desired, in order to makethe top of the inner cylinder broader or wider and to allow the gas pressure in thei cylinder to tend to force it upwardly, it may have a bearing `ring 38 lixed thereto in any approved manner and forming a part thereof, the ring being of greater thickness than the cylinder and extending inwardly beyond its inner surface.

From the foregoing, it will be apparent that the spring-urged, upward pressure of the inner cylinder on the ported sealing-ring secures a compression or gas-pressure tight relation between them and between the sealing-ring and the cylinder-head, at the same time allowing the capacity for expansion and contraction of the ring, the top and bottom o faces of which are at right anglesto its axis.

Two, substantially semi-circular, inlet and the outer cylinder on the one hand, and the inner cylinder, sealing-'ring and cylinderhead on the outer hand, the inlet-valve 39 Yhaving a port 42 therethrough adapted during the vertical, reciprocatory stroke of the valve to be brought into and out of register with the corresponding ports of the outer cylinder and the sealing-ring, the exhaustvalve 41- having -a port 43 similarly shifted into and out of register with the complementary ports of thecylinder and sealing-ring.

Valve 39 is reciprocated in proper-timed relation to the movements of the other parts of the mechanism by a suitably-rotated eccentric or crank-shaft 44 joined by a connectingrod or link 45 to a wrist-pin 46 mounted in spaced lugs or ears 47 rigid with, and outstanding rom, the lower portion of the valve between the margins of the adjacent supporting walls 15, which, if desired, may acty as guides for the valve by their co-operation with the lugs or ears.

In similar manner, the exhaust-valve 4l is i actuated by an eccentric or crank-shaft 48 and its associated connecting-rod 49.

The power-'piston 51 fits and slides in the inner cylinder and its connecting-rod 52 is operatively united with the main crank-shaft 53 of the engine in the usual way. I

Thus, the sealing-ring is maintained in pressure-tight relation with the cylinderheadand the inner cylinder in similar relation with the ring by lthe constant, upward, pressing action of the springs 23 on such shiftable cylinder, the force exerted by such springs being augmented or increased, d uring the explosion gas pressure and during the compression in the cylinder by the a-ctlon of such pressures on the under side of the overhanging part of the element 38 of the inner cylinder, and yet, the sealing-ring can press outwardly against the valves under lts owntendency to enlarge supplemeted by the gas pressure inside of it, and the valves in turn are forced outwardly against the inner surface of the outer cylinder,

In this way, the gas pressure is sealed in the cylinder against leakage or improper escape, assuring correct, etcient and economical operation of the engine.

Another important feature of the invention is the comparatively easy removal of the inner cylinder and the valves, if occasion demands.

This may be accomplished ineither one of two ways. l l

Turning first to Figures 1, 6, 7 and 8 of the drawing, the bottom pan (not shown) of the crank-case having been demounted, the connecting-rod 52 is easily disconnected from the main crank-shaft 53 from below and then the power-piston 51 and such connecting-rod are taken out downwardly or upwardly.

Thereupon, the connecting-rods 45 and 49` ion, inner-cylinder is readily pushed up from the bottom out of---its supporting ring and taken out of the open top ofthe external ,cylinder.

Thereupon, the ring 21, its bolts 18, and the associated springs 23 and washers 24 are demounted and removed from below.

Then the, main crank-shaft 53 is turned to bring its crank-section into horizontal position under the valve 39 which is pushed up the full distance it will go (see Figure 8), and the companion valve 41 is slid down until lts upper end is lower than and thus clears the bottom end of the elevated valve 39, this descent being permitted by having the eccentric or crank shaft 48 for such second valve 41 turned to position its crank-section horizontally away from the valve, the cheeks of such crank-section being chamfered as shown 1n F igure 6 to allow the valve lugs to pass down by them.

This having been accomplished, the lower valve is turned 90 degrees (see Figure 8), shifted bodily ,sidewise and slid out down between the cheeks'of the corresponding crank-portion of the main crank-shaft.

'C After that, it is an easy matter to 'take the escape or clear the companion valve, but by providing the specified recesses in the mating edgesof the valves, with the one valve at its vv: upper limit of travel, the complementary -valve may be'slid down in an inclined position and thus removed, the main` crank-shaft being turned at the same time, if necessary, to follow the travel of the valve and allow its'downward-passage by it.

One of the two valves having been thus extracted, the second one may be withdrawn in comparable manner.

Attentionis directed to the fact that in thus demounting/the several specified parts of the engine, there is no separation of the-'cylinderblock fromv'the upper` portion of the crankcase, and, in fact, because this is not required,

.they can be Icast integral, which results in distinct economic and functional advantages, and itis to be perceived, further, that none of theI eccentric shafts are disturbed. If, therefore,`it becomes'desirable either to remove the inner cylinder or to take out the valves, this may be accomplished compara-l tively quickly and at relatively small expense.

Although. only two embodiments of the invention have herein been set forth, it will be readily understood by those skilled in this art that the invention is susceptible of other embodimentsdiliering in mechanical structure from those set forth, but incorporating its vfundamental principles, as defined by the following claims.

l. In an internal-combustion engine, the

, combination of al1-'outer ported cylinder, a

head for said cylinder, a ported expansible sealing-ring bearing on said'cylinder-head,

an inner` longitudinally-movable cylinder bearing on said sealing-ring,a piston slidable 1n sald inner cylinder, a crank-shaft, aconnecting-nod ]o1n1ng saldr piston and crank- A shaft, means to press sla-id inner cylinder lengthwise against said sealing-ring and to press said sealing-ring against said cylinderhead-to seal `the joints between said inner' cylinder, sealing-ring and cylinder-head against the escape of gas pressure from said cylinder, valve-means between and slidable lengthwise of said outer cylinder on thelone hand and said inner cylinder and sealingringon the otherhand, and means to reciprocate vsaid valve-means. l

2. In an internal-combustion engine, the

combinationof an outer cylinder having inlet and exhaust ports, a head for said cylinder, an` expansible sealing-ring bearing on said cylinder-head andhaving inlet and exhaust ports in substantial register with said vcylinder-ports, an inner lengthwise-movable cylinder bearing on said sealing-ring, a piston slidable in said inner cylinder, a crankshaft, a connecting-rod joining said piston and' crank-shaft, means to press said inner cylinder longitudinally against said sealing- 8'5' ring and to forcesaid sealing-"ring against said cylinder-head to seal the joints between them against the escape of gas pressure inthe i cylinder, arcuate valves between and slidable lengthwise of said outer cylinderlon the one hand and said innerl cylinder and sealing' ring on the other hand, and means to reciprocate savalves.

3. I anyv internal-combustion engine, the combination of an outer cylinder having inlet and exhaust ports, a head for said cylinder,

an expansible sealing-ring Ibearing on said cylinder-head and having inlet and exhaust ports in substantial register rwithsaid cylin-` der-ports, an inner lengthwise-movable cylinder bearing on said sealing-ring, a piston slidable in saidinner cylinder, a crankshaft, a connecting-rodjoining said piston and crank-shaft, yieldin meansto press said inner cylinder longitu inally againstv said sealing-ring vand to force said sealing-ring against said cylinder-head to seal the joints between them against the escape of gas pressure in the cylinder, arcuate valves between and slidable lengthwise of said outer cylinder on the one hand and said inner cylinder and sealing-ring on the other hand,- and means to reciprocate said valves. v'

4. In an internal-combustion engine, the.`

combination of an outer cylinder having inlet and exhaust ports, a head for said cylinder, an expansible sealing-ringv bearing on said cylinder-head and having inlet'and exhaust ports in substantial register with said cylinder-ports, an inner lengthwise-movable cylinder bearing on said sealing-ring, a pis-l Ijton slidable in said inner cylinder, a crankshaft, a connecting-rod joining said piston v and crank-shaft, yielding means acting on the lower end of said cylinder to press said inner cylinder longitudinally against said sealing-ring and to force `said sealing-ring against said-cylinder-head to seal the joints between them against the escape f gas pressure in the cylinder, arcuate valves /between and'. slidableA lengthwise of said outer cylin-v and sealing-ring on the other hand, and

means to reciprocate said valves.

5. In an internal-combustion engine, the combination of an outer ported cylinder, a

sealing-ring in said cylinder, an' inner cylinder inside of and spaced inwardly away from said outer, cylinder, valve-means between and slidablelengthwise of said outer cylinder on the one hand and said inner cylinder and sealing-ring on the other hand, means to reciprocate said valve-means, means to seal the joints between said inner cylinder, sealing-ring and cylinder-head against gas pressure leakage thereat, a piston slidable in said inner cylinder, a crank-shaft, a connecting-rod joining said piston and crankshaftkand means supporting said inner cylinder at its lower end and from4 which said inner cylinder is demountable upwardly, permitting such inner cylinder to be removed from the upper end .of said outer cylinder after removal of said )cylinder-head and sealing-ring.

6. In an internal-combustion engine, the combination of an vouter ported cylinder, a crank-case, a head for said cylinder, a ported expansible sealing-ring in said cylinder, an

inner cylinder inside of and spaced inwardly away from said outer cylinder, valve-` means between and slidable lengthwise of said outer cylinder on the one hand and said inner cylinder and sealing-ring on the other hand, means to reciprocate said valve-means,

means to seal the joints between said inner cylinder, sealing-ring and cylinder-head against gas pressure eak'age thereat, a piston slidable in said inner cylinder, a crankshaft in said crank-case, a connecting-rod joining said piston and crank-shaft, and a support near the lowei` end of said outer cylinder demountable downwardly while the cylinder-block and upper section of the crankcase remain united and while the' crank-shaft remains in place, said inner cylinder being carried by said support and demountable therefrom upwardly, permitting such inner cylinder to be removed from the upper end of said outer cylinder after removal of said cylinder-head and sealing-ring. 7. In an internal-combustion engine the combination of an outer ported cylinder, a crank-case, a head for said cylinder, a ported lexpansible sealing-ring in said cylinder, an inner cylinder inside of and spaced inwardly away from said louter cylinder, valve-means between and slidable lengthwise of said outer v. cylinder on the one hand and said -inner cyl- Fhead for said cylinder, a ported expansible port near the lower end of said outer cylinder demountabledownwardly while the cylinder-block and upper section of the crankcase remain united and while the crank-shaft remains in place, said inner cylinder being carried by said support andA demountable therefrom upwardly, permitting such inner expansible sealing-ring in said cylinder, an

inner cylinder inside of and spaced inwardly away from -said `outer cylinder, valve-means between and slidable lengthwise of said outer cylinder on the one hand and said inner cylinder and sealing-ring on the other hand, an eccentric shaft, an operating rod connecting said eccentric shaft and a lug on said valvemeans, said eccentric shaft being chambered to permit said lug to pass thereby when said rod is disconnected from said valve-means, .a piston slidable in said inner cylinder, a crank-shaft in said `crank-case, a connectingrod joining said piston and crank-shaft, a support near the lower end of said outer cylinder demountable downwardly while the cylinder-,block and upper section of the crankcase remain united and while the crank-shaft remains in place, said inner-cylinder being carried by said. support and removable therelfrom upwardly, permitting such inner cylmder to be removed from the upper end of said outer cylinder after removal of said cylinderhead and sealing-ring,'and permitting said valve-means to be removed downwardly after l said inner cylinderand support have been decombination of an outer ported cylinder, a crank-case, a head for said cylinder, a ported expansible sealing-ring in said cylinder, an inner cylinder inside of and spaced inwardly away from said outer cylinder, arcuate valves between and slidable lengthwise of said outer cylinder on the one hand and said inner cylinder and sealing-ring on the other hand, means to reciprocate said valves and having detachable connection therewith, means to seal the joints between said inner cylinder, 'sealing-ring and cylinder-head against gas pressure leakage thereat, a piston slidable in said inner cylinder, a crankshaft n i said crank-case, a connecting-rod joining said piston and crank-shaft, a support near the lower I end of said outer cylinder demountable downwardly while the cylinder-block and upper section of the crank-case remain united and while the crank-shaft remains in place, said inner cylinder being carried by said support and removable therefrom upwardly, permitting such -inner cylinder to vbe removed fromA` the upper end of vsaid outer cylinder after removal of said cylinder-head and sealing-ring, the upper end of one of said valves f andthe lower endofl the other of said valves being cut away to facilitate their downward removal from the outer cylinder after said inner zylinder and said support have been remove 10. In an internal-combustion engine, the fcombination of an-outer ported cylinder, a head for said cylinder, an inner cylinder inside of and spaced inwardly awa from said outer cylinder, a ported expansi le sealin ring between said inner cylinder and said c inder-head, valves between and slidagle lengthwise of said outer cylinder on the one h and and said inner cylinder and sealingrm on the other hand, means to reciprocate sai valves, means to seal the joints between sald inner cylinder,

a piston slida le in said inner cylinder, a shaft, means operatively connecting said piston and shaft, and means to support said inner cylinder from near its lower `end only and from which said cylinder is detachable, said inner cylinder being of such size that when detached from said sup orting means it may be removed upwardly rom said outer cylinder, said cylinder-head and sealing-ring havinglbeen first removed.

h dwitness whereof I have hereunto set my L RALPH L.. SKINNER.

sealing-ring and cylinderv head against as pressure-'leakage thereat, 

